Dark Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Butter Cream And Ganache Recipes

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; dust the pans with flour, and knock out excess.
• In a large measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, coffee, vanilla and 1 1/2 cups water. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix on low speed. Mix in the butter and eggs, and then slowly add the buttermilk mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake until the cake layers begin to pull away from sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes.
• For the Swiss meringue buttercream: Add the sugar and egg whites to a heatproof stand mixer bowl, and set over a pan of simmering water. Whisking constantly, heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and cooled, about 10 minutes. Continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. (Makes 7 cups. See Cook's Note.)
• For the raspberry buttercream: In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat 800 grams of the Swiss meringue buttercream together with the raspberry puree until fully incorporated. (Makes 4 cups.)
• To assemble: Level and tort both cakes--you will end up with 4 layers of cake. Place one cake layer on a serving platter; add about a 1/2-inch layer of the raspberry buttercream. Repeat until you have 4 stacked layers of cake and 3 layers of filling. Frost the cake with the remaining Swiss meringue buttercream.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY AND CHOCOLATE GANACHE FILLINGS AND BUTTERCREAM ICING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pudding mix in a medium bowl. Set aside. Bring the milk to a boil and add the white chocolate chips. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes, then stir until completely incorporated. Allow the white chocolate mixture to cool completely. Beat the oil, eggs and white chocolate mixture in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fully incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and reduce the speed to low. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating until combined, about 3 minutes.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out on wire racks to cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• For the raspberry filling: Combine the raspberries, sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and slowly bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Let cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• For the chocolate ganache: Heat the heavy cream to boiling. Pour over the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Stir until completely smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature, about 45 minutes.
• For the buttercream: Beat the butter, shortening and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer until combined and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• To assemble the cake: Level both cakes by running a sharp knife around the top edge of each cake, scoring it, then carefully cutting through the cakes along the score lines. Fill a piping back fitted with a No.12 tip with buttercream icing. Pipe a dam around the inside of the bottom layer of cake. Inside the dam, spread a very thin layer of raspberry filling, about 3 tablespoons (for this filling, less is more). Then top with a more generous layer of chocolate ganache, about a quarter-inch thick. Stack the other cake layer on top and cover the whole cake with buttercream icing.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Grease a 10-in. springform pan and dust with baking cocoa; set aside., In a large saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over medium heat; stir until smooth. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat eggs on medium-high speed for 5 minutes. Using low speed, add the flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Gradually add chocolate mixture; beat on medium for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan. , Bake at 350° for 25-28 minutes or just until set. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Remove sides of pan and invert onto a serving plate; invert again, so top side is up., For ganache, in a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips with cream; stir until smooth. Cool until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Spread ganache over top of cake, allowing some to drape over the sides., For sauce, in a large saucepan, heat raspberries. Transfer raspberries to a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl. Mash and strain raspberries, reserving juice. Discard seeds. , In another saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, water and reserved raspberry juice until smooth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until mixture reaches desired consistency. Stir in orange extract., For whipped cream, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar, cocoa and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Garnish cake with chocolate whipped cream and sauce.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY GANACHE CAKE

Steps:

• Make génoise:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Butter an 9-inch round cake pan (about 2 inches deep) and line bottom with a round of parchment paper or foil.
• In a small bowl whisk together cocoa powder, flour, cornstarch, and baking soda.
• In a metal bowl whisk together whole eggs, yolk, sugar, and salt until combined. Set mixture over a saucepan of simmering water and continue to whisk until lukewarm. Remove bowl from heat and with an electric mixer beat mixture at high speed until it has cooled and doubled in volume.
• Sift one third cocoa mixture over egg mixture and fold together. Sift and fold in remaining cocoa mixture, half at a time, in same manner. Pour batter into pan and smooth top. Bake génoise in middle of oven for 30 minutes, or until it is firm to the touch and pulls away slightly from side of pan. Invert génoise onto a rack and immediately invert onto another rack to cool right side up. Génoise may be wrapped in plastic wrap and chilled 1 week or frozen 1 month. Thaw génoise before assembling cake.
• Make ganache:.
• In a saucepan bring cream, butter, and corn syrup to a boil over moderate heat and remove pan from heat. Add chocolate, swirling pan to submerge chocolate in hot mixture, and let stand 3 minutes. Whisk ganache until smooth and transfer to a bowl. Chill ganache, covered, at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.
• Assemble cake:.
• Let ganache stand at room temperature until slightly softened and pliable but still cool. With a whisk or electric mixer beat ganache just until light and fluffy.
• Remove parchment paper from génoise and with a long serrated knife cut cake horizontally into 3 rounds.
• Invert top layer of génoise onto a springform pan base or a 9-inch cardboard round and brush with one third syrup. Spread layer with half of jam and spread one third ganache over jam. Top ganache with middle layer of génoise and repeat layering of, jam, and ganache. Top with third layer of génoise. Spread top and side of cake with remaining ganache. Chill cake until ganache is set, about 30 minutes. Cake may be assembled ahead, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled 5 days or frozen 1 month. Thaw cake before proceeding.
• Make glaze:.
• In a saucepan bring cream to a boil and remove pan from heat. Add chocolate, swirling pan to submerge chocolate in hot cream, and let stand 2 minutes. Whisk glaze until smooth and pour through a sieve set over a bowl. Cool glaze to room temperature.
• With cake on a rack set over a pan (to catch drips) pour glaze through sieve onto center of cake. Quickly spread glaze evenly over top and sides of cake with a long, narrow, metal spatula. Let cake stand until glaze is set, about 5 minutes.
• Garnish cake with raspberries and keep at cool room temperature until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• With sharp knife, carefully slice off rounded top of 1 cooled, baked cake layer, creating a flat surface. Gently transfer cake layer to plate.
• In medium bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups cream with electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Reserve 1 raspberry for garnish; add remaining raspberries and the powdered sugar to cream. Beat on low speed just until folded together.
• Using metal spatula, spread raspberry-cream mixture on top of cake layer on plate, spreading to edge. Top gently with second cake layer. Run spatula around edge of cake to smooth cream layer.
• In medium microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate ganache ingredients on High 1 minute; stir until creamy. If chocolate is not completely melted, microwave 30 to 60 seconds longer. Spoon ganache over top of cake, allowing some to run down side.
• Place 1 raspberry in center of cake. Allow ganache to harden at room temperature before serving. If not serving for more than 30 minutes, cover cake gently and store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

DARK CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®).
• Combine cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and almond extract in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly by hand, then fold in pie filling; batter will be thick. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack before inverting carefully onto a cake platter or cake stand, about 30 minutes.
• For glaze, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add chocolate chips and stir constantly with a whisk until melted, then quickly stir in milk.
• Remove from heat and pour to drizzle evenly over cake. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

DARK-CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans; dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Line bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in chocolate and vanilla. With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture in three parts and buttermilk in two, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pans 15 minutes; run a knife around edge of each pan, and invert cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Set a rimmed baking sheet upside down on a work surface. Place one cake on sheet, and spread top with 1/3 of ganache. Place second cake on top, and spread remaining ganache over top and sides of cake. Using two wide metal spatulas, carefully transfer frosted cake to a serving platter.

DEEP & DARK GANACHE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line bottoms of 3 greased 8-in. square baking pans with parchment; grease the paper. , Place chocolate in a small bowl. Pour hot coffee over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth. Cool slightly., In a large bowl, beat eggs on high speed until lemon-colored. Gradually add sugar, oil, vanilla and the chocolate mixture, beating until well blended. In another bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to chocolate mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. , Transfer to prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., For ganache, place chocolate in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream and corn syrup just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth., Let stand at room temperature to cool and thicken slightly, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Mixture will be very soft, but will thicken when spread onto cake.), Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/3 cup ganache. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining ganache over top and sides of cake.

VEGAN CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY CAKE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Oil and flour a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®).
• Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add 2 cups soy milk, oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract and stir until just combined. Pour batter evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven, watching closely, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Invert cake onto a serving platter with a sheet of wax paper underneath the cake. Let cool completely, about 45 minutes, before glazing.
• Combine jam and 1 tablespoon water in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat glaze in a microwave oven at 50% power for about 1 minute.
• Combine chocolate chips and 1/4 cup soy milk in the top of a double boiler over medium heat. Stir until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Add coffee granules and stir until smooth. Remove ganache from heat and let sit to thicken slightly, about 8 minutes.
• Spoon and spread raspberry glaze all over the top and sides of the cake. Follow with ganache. Allow cake to sit in a cool place until serving. Before serving, remove the wax paper from under the cake.

DARK CHOCOLATE WEDDING CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ORANGE GANACHE AND ORANGE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preparing The Cake:
• Make cake layers:
• Preheat oven to 350° F. and line 2 buttered 7- by 2-inch round cake pans and 2 buttered 9- by 2-inch round cake pans with rounds of wax paper. Butter paper and dust pans with flour, knocking out excess.
• Put cocoa powder in a bowl and whisk in boiling water in a stream until smooth. Stir in chopped chocolate and let stand 5 minutes. Stir mixture until smooth and chocolate is melted and cool mixture. Whisk in sour cream and vanilla.
• Into a bowl sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. In large bowl of a standing electric mixer beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy and add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down side of bowl. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture and cocoa mixture alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating until batter is combined well.
• Pour 2 cups batter into each 7-inch pan and smooth tops. Divide remaining batter between 9-inch pans (about 33/4 cups each) and smooth tops. In middle and lower thirds of oven arrange one 9-inch layer and one 7-inch layer on each rack, putting 7-inch layers in front part of oven. Bake 7-inch layers 25 to 30 minutes and 9-inch layers 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto racks. Peel off paper and cool cakes completely. Cake layers may be made 2 days ahead and kept at cool room temperature, wrapped well in plastic wrap, or 2 weeks ahead and frozen, wrapped well in plastic wrap and foil. Defrost cake layers (without unwrapping) at room temperature.
• Make ganache:
• In a small saucepan bring cream just to a boil. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, butter, zest, and liqueur. Let ganache stand 3 minutes and whisk until chocolate is melted. Chill ganache just until cool, about 40 minutes.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat ganache just until light and fluffy before using (do not overbeat or it will become grainy).
• Assemble cake:
• Put one 9-inch layer on 8-inch cardboard round and spread evenly with 2 cups ganache. Top with remaining 9-inch layer and gently press layers together to form an even tier. Put one 7-inch layer on 6-inch cardboard round and top with remaining ganache and remaining 7-inch layer in same manner.
• Frost top and sides of 9-inch tier with some buttercream and chill while frosting 7-inch tier. Chill both tiers until buttercream is firm.
• Cut straws in half and insert 1 straw piece all the way into center of 9-inch tier. Trim straw flush with top of tier and insert remaining 5 straw pieces in same manner in a circle about 1 1/2 inches from center straw. Center 7-inch tier (still on cardboard) on top of 9-inch tier. Fill in any gaps between tiers with buttercream and transfer cake to a cake stand or platter. Chill cake at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.
• Arrange fraises des bois and roses decoratively on top and around sides of cake. Let cake stand at cool room temperature (buttercream is sensitive to warm temperatures) 2 to 4 hours before serving. Serves about 30 (including top tier).
• Preparing The Orange Buttercream:
• Make orange curd:
• In a small heavy saucepan whisk together yolks and sugar and whisk in orange juice, butter, and a pinch salt. Cook mixture over moderately low heat, whisking, until it just reaches boiling point, 5 to 7 minutes (do not let boil), and strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. Whisk in lemon juice and cool curd, its surface covered with plastic wrap. Chill orange curd, covered, until cold, at least 4 hours, and up to 2 days.
• Make buttercream:
• In a heavy saucepan bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil syrup, undisturbed, until it registers 248° F. on a candy thermometer. While syrup is boiling, in large bowl of a standing electric mixer beat whites with a pinch salt until foamy and beat in cream of tartar. Beat whites until they just hold stiff peaks and beat in hot syrup in a stream (try to avoid beaters and side of bowl). Beat mixture at medium speed until completely cool, 15 to 20 minutes. Beat in butter, 1 piece at a time, and beat until thickened and smooth. (Buttercream will at first appear very thin and at some point look like it is breaking but, as more butter is beaten in, it will thicken and become glossy and smooth.) Beat in orange curd, salt, and zest until smooth. Buttercream may be made 4 days ahead and chilled in an airtight container or 2 weeks ahead and frozen in an airtight container. Bring buttercream completely to room temperature (this may take several hours if frozen) and beat before using. (If buttercream is too cold when beaten it will not be glossy and smooth.) Makes about 8 cups.

DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY BUTTER CREAM AND GANACHE

Steps:

• Dark Chocolate Cake:.
• Preheat oven to 300° F.
• Line 3 9″ round baking pans with parchment paper, grease the sides with butter and set aside.
• Combine flour, sugar, dark cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.
• Add eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil, and mix in stand mixer with the flat beater installed.
• Add hot coffee or espresso and vanilla extract to boiling water.
• Add to the mixture and mix well. The batter will be quite thin.
• Divide batter evenly between the 3 cake pans and bake for 35-40 minutes (the cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean).
• Remove cakes from oven and let them cool completely.
• While the cake is cooling, you can get started on the buttercream.
• Raspberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream:.
• Wash raspberries and let them dry completely.
• Wash the mixer bowl and attachments. Here is a neat trick I learned - put some lemon juice on a paper towel and then wipe out your mixer bowl with it before making the meringue - this removes any trace of grease in the bowl.
• Add egg whites and sugar to the bowl and then whisk them constantly and gently over a simmering pot of water until the sugar has completely dissolved and the egg whites are hot.
• With the whisk attached to the stand mixer, whip the hot mixture until the meringue is thick and glossy, and - this is very important - the bottom of the bowl has reached room temperature. This process takes about 10 minutes.
• Roughly puree the raspberries with a blender or food processor.
• Cut the butter into cubes.
• Method 1: Switch over to the flat beater attachment, start mixing on slow speed and add the butter one cube at a time. Keep running at slow speed until the mixture has reached a silky smooth texture (if it curdles, keep mixing and it will smooth back out). Add vanilla, buttermilk, salt, and finally the pureed raspberries while continuing to mix.
• Chocolate-Hazelnut Ganache:.
• Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler (I simply use a metal bowl over a simmering pot of water) and stir with a rubber spatula until smooth.
• Cake Assembly:.
• Cut the domes off two of the cooled down cakes with a serrated knife (a perfect snack for the baker...).
• Put the first cut layer down on a cake plate and spread a layer of butter cream evenly on top.
• Put the second cut layer on top and spread another layer of butter cream evenly on its top.
• Put the final cake layer on top, and then cover the top as well the sides of the cake with butter cream evenly.
• Put slightly cooled ganache into a pastry bag with a thin tip or a decorating bottle fitted with a thin tip and decorate the cake with it . Make sure you have some ganache drizzling down the sides as well.
• Use the remaining whole raspberries to finish decorating the cake.